Share This Story!

Vermont Army Guard air-rescue honored

When hikers, skiers or others in the backcountry are at risk of losing “life, limb or eyesight,” the Vermont State Police may call the Vermont Army National Guard air rescue team. The pilots and team members were honored for their help in such rescues Thursday.

Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

When does a distress call from backcountry hunters, hikers and skiers warrant air support?

When folks are at risk of losing “life, limb or eyesight,” according to Vermont Army National Guard Lt. Col. John Johnston on Thursday, a few minutes before an award ceremony at Camp Johnson at Colchester.

Vermont State Police officials dial up his office about once per month, on average, said Johnston, who also also serves as State Aviation Officer.

“The calls really start up during hunting season, and they peak right about now,” he said.

The state police motor pool doesn’t include what the Guard terms “airborne assets” — in this case, helicopters that can scour great swaths of wilderness.

At least two dozen pilots and support crew members stood at attention when state police Director Col. Tom L’Esperance arrived at the foyer podium to pay his respects.

L’Esperance thanked the ranks for their “tremendous” help.

“You are always there for us,” he said, and presented Johnston and his team with a bronze statuette of a state trooper.

The Army Guard has 10 helicopters, and it considers the real-life rescues, in part, as “phenomenal” training for wartime missions, Johnston said.

The unit is on-call 24 hours per day.

“The calls that come in don’t always happen when you want them to,” he added, “but there’s value in it every time you fly.”

Contact Joel Banner Baird at 660-1843 or joelbaird@FreePressMedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/vtgoingup.